Greens on the grill – a new way to cook summer kale

Garlicky grilled kale served with a burger and fresh tomatoes makes a perfect summer meal.

Matthew Mead/Associated Press

Garlicky grilled kale served with a burger and fresh tomatoes makes a perfect summer meal.

When I created this recipe, I was aiming for something akin to a saute. What I got was so much better.

When you saute kale, it acts like spinach. That is, it wilts, releases a lot of moisture and becomes very tender. Prepared this way, itís delicious in stir-fries, tossed with pasta or seasoned and used as a bed for roasted or grilled meats.

But on a recent way-too-hot day, the idea of standing at the stove just didnít appeal. And since I already had the grill going, I figured I could get the same effect if I seasoned the kale, dumped it on a baking sheet and set it over the grill for a few minutes.

Except that the intense heat of the grill never gave the kale a chance to wilt. In just minutes, the greens went from fresh to toasted and lightly crisped.

It also happened to be delicious and paired particularly well with the sausages I also was grilling that evening.

And you donít need to like the seasoning blend I created to use this technique. Flavor the kale however you see fit (some red pepper flakes would be a fine addition).

But however you season the kale, watch it carefully. Every grill heats differently, and kale is so delicate it can go from perfect to perfectly burnt rather quickly.

One note about grilling with a baking sheet: The intense heat of the grill is likely to warp inexpensive baking sheets.

If you donít have a heavy duty baking sheet, I suggest using a disposable foil one, which most grocers sell in a variety of sizes.

Garlicky Grilled Kale

Start to finish: 15 minutesServings: 4

Ingredients:

Method:

Heat a grill to medium-high. Line a heavy baking sheet with foil, or use a disposable foil baking sheet. Coat the foil or baking sheet with cooking spray.In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside.Trim off and discard the thick stems from the kale. Coarsely chop the kale leaves, aiming for pieces about 2 to 3 inches. Place the chopped kale in a large bowl, then drizzle it with the oil. Use your hands to toss the kale to coat evenly with the oil. Sprinkle half of the seasoning mixture over the kale, then toss again. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning and toss again.Spread the kale in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Place the baking sheet directly on the grill and cook with the grill covered for 7 minutes, or until the kale is crisp and begins to brown. Serve immediately.Nutrition information per serving: 130 calories; 70 calories from fat (54 percent of total calories); 8 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 13 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 770 mg sodium.